FocusRejected words and continuing disobedience
Jeremiah 35:4
KJVAnd I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which was by the chamber of the princes, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door:
This opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. The accounts follow conflicts around the prophetic word, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the choices of survivors, with a word to Baruch.
- 35:1 The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,
- 35:2 Go unto the house of the Rechabites, and speak unto them, and bring them into the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink.
- 35:3 Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habaziniah, and his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites;
- 35:4 And I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which was by the chamber of the princes, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door:
- 35:5 And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and I said unto them, Drink ye wine.
- 35:6 But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever:
- 35:7 Neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any: but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live many days in the land where ye be strangers.
- 35:8 Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters;
- 35:9 Nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed:
- 35:10 But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.
- 35:11 But it came to pass, when Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that we said, Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of the army of the Syrians: so we dwell at Jerusalem.
Who
- Who wrote the book? Jeremiah son of Hilkiah is the prophet behind the book, with Baruch serving as his scribe. The complete collection includes narrative and a historical appendix as well as Jeremiah's dictated words. Biblical references: Jeremiah 1:1; Jeremiah 36:4; Jeremiah 36:32. stated in the text
- Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Jeremiah 35:1–35:19): Jeremiah meets the Rechabites, then contrasts their obedience with Judah's conduct in a message to the people. stated in the text
- Who was the book written to? Judah and Jerusalem before and during the Babylonian crisis, exiles in Babylon, and later readers of the preserved prophetic collection. Individual oracles name additional recipients. Biblical references: Jeremiah 2:2; Jeremiah 29:1; Jeremiah 46:1. stated in the text
What
- What is the topic of this reading unit? The Obedience of the Rechabites. Read Jeremiah 35:1 through Jeremiah 35:11 as a connected unit. interpretation
- How does it contribute to the book? This opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. The accounts follow conflicts around the prophetic word, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the choices of survivors, with a word to Baruch. interpretation
When
- When are the events or message set? The opening dates Jeremiah's ministry from Josiah's reign toward the captivity of Jerusalem. Individual messages also name particular reigns and events, and the book is not arranged as a simple diary. book background
Where
- What is the book’s geographic setting? Judah and Jerusalem dominate, with messages to exiles in Babylon, accounts involving Egypt, and oracles concerning other nations. book background
- Where does the context start? This passage sits in The Obedience of the Rechabites (Jeremiah 35:1 to Jeremiah 35:11). Start reading at Jeremiah 35:1. An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
How
- How does this book connect with Jesus Christ? Hebrews explicitly quotes Jeremiah's new-covenant promise in its explanation of Christ's priestly work. The quotation retains the named houses of Israel and Judah; later application should account for that wording. See Jeremiah 31:31, Hebrews 8:8, Hebrews 8:10. interpretation
- How should this book guide our response? Listen to unwelcome truth and distinguish it from reassuring claims unsupported by God's word. Do not detach promises of restoration from the judgment, exile, and response described around them. interpretation
Cited: Jeremiah 35:1, Jeremiah 35:11, Jeremiah 31:31, Hebrews 8:8, Hebrews 8:10
Who wrote it, and how we know
Related passages
- into the chamber Jer 36:10-12
- a man Deut 33:1 Josh 14:6 1 Sam 2:27 1 Sam 9:6-8 1 Kgs 12:22 1 Kgs 13:1,26 1 Kgs 17:18,24 1 Kgs 20:28
- the princes Jer 26:10
- the keeper Jer 52:24 2 Kgs 12:9 2 Kgs 25:18 1 Chr 9:18-19,27 2 Chr 8:14 Ps 84:10
- door Ezek 43:8
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Jeremiah 35
Jeremiah 1:1 Jeremiah 1:2 Jeremiah 36:4
Judah Rebuked
Jeremiah 35:12–19FocusRejected words and continuing disobedience
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Jeremiah
Jeremiah 1:1 Jeremiah 1:2 Jeremiah 36:4
Jeremiah's call
Jeremiah 1:1–19FocusCommission and opposition
Judah's unfaithfulness and announced judgment
Jeremiah 2:1–25:38FocusWarning, intercession, and refusal
The prophet contested
Jeremiah 26:1–29:32FocusTrue and false messages
Promises of restoration
Jeremiah 30:1–33:26FocusReturn, covenant, and hope
FocusRejected words and continuing disobedience
Oracles against the nations
Jeremiah 46:1–51:64FocusJudgment on the surrounding powers
The fall of Jerusalem recounted
Jeremiah 52:1–34FocusDestruction and the exiled king
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.